Blood Tests

Blood tests, where a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory, have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

assess your general state of health

confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection

see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm, typically from the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The child's hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

The practice is not currently funded to provide phlebotomy services. However, we do provide the service for patients who would find it difficult to get to a hospital to have their bloods taken.

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS Choices website.